murphy



No. 6I4,969. v Patented Nov. 29, I898. F. H. MURPHY & M. R. PIERGE.

CHANGEABLE GEAR FUR BIGYGLES 0R SIMILAR DRIVING MECHANISMS.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Nov. 29, I898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(Application filed Nov. 80, 1897.)

F. H. MURPHY & M. R. PIERCE. CHANGEABLE GEAR FUR BICYGLES 0R SIMILAR DRIVING MEGHANISMS.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS II. MURPHY AND MASON R. PIERCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CHANGEABLE GEAR FOR BICYCLES 0R SIMILAR DRIVING MECHANISMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,969, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed November 30, 1897. Serial No. 660,232. (No modelh To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANCIS H. MURPHY and MASON R. PIERCE, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Gears for Bicycles or Similar Driving Mechanisms, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to changeable gear for bicycles and similar driving mechanisms; and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved gear of this character which will be especially adapted for convenient and effective use upon bicycles of the chainless type.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of our improvement are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a bicycle provided with our improved gear; and Fig. 2 is a detail top or plan view, partly in section,of the gear mechanism.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, A designates the frame of the machine, which maybe in the main of any suitable or adapted construction, embodying the tubular head a and the lower tubular front bar a, extending from the head to the crankshaft bearing.

B designates the crank-shaft, which carries at one side the frame of the machine a bevelgear C, having upon its inner face an outer gear 0, within the plane of which is arranged an inner gear 0' of lesser diameter.

D designates a shaft which is arranged longitudinally with respect to the frame of the machine, preferably in bearing-brackets e, projecting from one of the lower rear side bars E of the frame. Atits rear end the shaft D carries a bevel-gear d, meshing with a corresponding bevel-gearf upon the shaft F of the main driving-wheel, and at its front end the shaft D carries two bevel-pinions Gr G, respectively, of varying diameter, which pinions are separated a suitable distance and respectively mesh with the different gears c 0 upon the main gear. The pinions are loosely mounted upon their shaft and are adapted to be engaged by an intermediate clutch H, carried upon the shaft D and adapted to be thrown into or out of engagement with the respective pinions.

The clutch is operated by a transverse lever I, which may be pivotally mounted, as at 2', in the frame-bars E, which lever preferably engages the clutch by means of an end point i, received by a circumferential groove or recess 71. upon the clutch.

It will be understood that by operation of the lever I the clutch may be moved longitudinally upon its shaft to bring its clutch ends 71. 71. into engagement with the corresponding inner clutch-faces c of the respective pinions and that the clutch may be withheld from engagement with either of the pinions in a position intermediately between the same.

The lever I is operated by a worm-shaft J, mounted in longitudinal position and bearing in the frame portion E, the lever being provided with a pin, as at '5 engaging the worm. The front end of the worm-shaft projects within the tubular bar a of the frame, as at j, and is connected by a joint K with the lower end of a shaft L, arranged longitudinally within the tubular bar a, the top end of said shaft L being connected by a similar joint K with the lower end of a shaft M, arranged within the tubular head a and extending to the top of the same, at which point it is provided with a detachable key m. The shaft M extends downwardly through the tubular stem m of the forward fork, which stem passes through the tubular head a of the frame in the usual manner, and said stem is cut out at m to admit of the connection of the shafts M and L and the turning of the guide-wheel, and the connecting-tube m of thehandle-bar passes into the tubular stem m and the shaft M passes upwardly therethrough. By turning the keym the shaft M is revolved and in turn revolves the shaft L, which operates to revolve the worm-shaft J, and thereby cause the lever I to throw the clutch into engagement in either direction, as desired.

It will be understood that the sliding clutch is withheld from rotary movement by a feather (Zor other suitable engaging device upon the shaft D.

The angular-joint connections between the shafts by which the worm is operated may be of any suitable or adapted construction; but we prefer to provide an improved rotary angle-joint connection of the construction herein shown, which embodies a connecting-link 70, having its ends respectively bifurcated, as at the bifurcations being at right angles to each other and pivotally receiving end fingers or flanges 70 upon the ends of the respective shaft-sections. The ends of the shaftsections are thus pivotally connected at right angles to the connecting-link, so that the rotary movement of one shaft connection will be communicated to the next shaft-section at an angle. In this construction the adjoining ends of the shaft-sections will have a slight play, the construction being especially adapted for a sectional shaft such as that herein embodied and inclosed within a casin g formed by the tubular bars.

The operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood. The gear may be instantly changed by the rider without dismounting by simply turning the key at to either ahigh orlow speed. For instance, in ascending a grade the rider can simply turn the key without dismounting to throw the low-speed gear into operation, and thus lessen exertion. In like manner the changeable gear may be operated to disconnect both gears and permit the machine to run free in coasting without movement of the pedals, or in coasting the low gear can at any moment be thrown into play and used as a brake.

The worm connection between the gear-operating mechanism and the clutch will serve to effectively retain the clutch in any position to which it may be adjusted. Thus by operating the mechanism to adjust the clutch to a position intermediately between the pinions and removing the detachable key m the machine will be virtually locked against use, inasmuch as the driving-wheel will then be entirely disconnected from the driving-gear.

The beveled gear and clutch and the worm mechanism may be housed within a suitable casing connected to the frame of the machine.

Having fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame having a tubular lower front bar and a tubular head, and handle-bars projecting from the upper end of said tubular head, of changeable driving-gear, a clutch controlling the same, a sectional operating-shaft connected with and regulating said clutch, extending through the lower front bar and head, and projecting through the upper end of said head and between the inner ends of the handle bars and provided with a handle or key.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame thereof, having a tubular lower bar, and a tubular head connected therewith, through which the stem of the forward fork passes, of a driving-gear, comprisingalongitudinal main shaft geared to the drivingwheel at one end and carrying at its other end gear-pinions of different diameters normally rotatable upon said shaft, a transverse crank-shaft having a wheel provided with gears of different diameters with which the pinions on the main shaft are adapted to engage, a clutch for controlling the connection between said pinions and main shaft, and a sectional operating-shaft connected with and regulating said clutch, said sectional operating-shaft extending through the lower barof the frame and into the tubular stem of the forward fork, and projecting upwardly therethrough, and a detachable key which is adapted to be connected with the upper end thereof,substantially as shown and described.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame having a tubular lower front bar and a tubular head, and handle-bars projecting from the upper end of said tubular head, of driving-gear, a clutch controlling the same, a lever controlling said clutch, a worm-shaft mounted at its ends in bearings in the rear and front lower bars and having its front end extending into the latter bar, a worm carried thereby and engaging a projection on said lever, and a sectional operating-shaft having one end connected with the front end of the worm-shaft, extending through the lower front bar and head, and projecting through the upper end of said head and between the inner ends of said handle-bars and provided with a handle or key.

4. In a bicycle, the combination, with gear mechanism,and a clutch or interlocking mechanism for throwing the same into and out of engagement, of an operating shaft or mechanism connected with said interlocking mechanism and operating to retain the same either in or out of operative position,said shaft or operating mechanism being inclosed or housed within the tubular bars of the frame and provided at its top end with a removable key, whereby said gear and its operating mechanism will serve also as a lock for the bicycle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of November, 1897.

FRANCIS lI. MURPHY. MASON R. PIERCE. Vitnesses:

L. M. MULLER, M. A. KNOWLES. 

